Chapter 12

Company

Point Place, WI

6:15PM

The table was set with care. Not with a real interest as to the reason for the semi-

elegant display but care that it was done properly. The table was highlighted with the

centerpiece of silver candles with a blue marble effect in them in their pewter

candlestick holders with the Celtic knot design, the fancy dishes, and the

monogrammed silverware with an Old English styled "F" engraved on the handles.

Paige helped Jacen make and pack Mindy's

surprise dinner of Beef Wellington, scalloped potatoes, and a crisp garden salad

earlier in the day. Which meant more to her than preparing a meal for that witch in

designer clothes Jackie Burkhart and whoever the hell she was bringing to their

home. Jacen and Mindy were going to have their dinner in the Swanson's kitchen

while her parents ate in the dining room so Eric couldn't say no.

"This dress makes me look fat." Paige said to Eric in their bedroom. Nonsense," he

kissed the nape of her neck before zipping up the back of her basic little black

dress, "You look hot. And there's a baby inside there." He gently patted her stomach.

"I know. I hope Jacen's dinner with Mindy goes well."

"Me too. Thank you for helping him today and yesterday."

Paige fixed his tie.

"You're welcome. As I told you last night, Eric, I realized a great deal. The

fact that he even reached out to me is good enough. 'Mom' is just a

label and I'll never force him to say the 'L' word. He's a special young

man."

"He is. And I know someday he'll come around on that. I am amazed that

you were going to take him to the mall yesterday."

"Your intentions were wonderful, but he wanted to be with Mindy which

would have happened had her Mother not wanted to go shopping in

Chicago. But it all worked out in the end." She kissed him on the lips.

"You're wonderful, Paige."

He kissed her back. "Now, I just have to get through an evening with

Jackie."

"I know you two aren't the best of friends. That's a shame because I think

under different circumstances you two would get along swimmingly. Infact

in the beginning I thought you two were becoming close."

"She crossed a line." That was a reference to the fight they had when they

were spending Christmas with Jackie a few years ago. She was the reason

in Paige's mind why it was taking so long for Jacen to open up to her. That

washed up aging beauty queen.

Eric put his arms around his wife and pulled her close.

"I love you, Paige."

"I love you too, Eric. Let's get this party started."

Only for the two most important men in her life would she tolerate Jackie

Burkhart's presence for.

Jackie sat in the passenger side of the elegant black and silver rental car in

front of the Forman house. She was dreading this night. Yes, it would

be great to see Eric and Jacen, but she really did not want to see Paige. She'd

rather walk on shards of glass than spend any time with her. It was

wonderful that Eric found his soul/lifemate and all, but that didn't mean

everyone else had to love that boring bookworm who knits for a hobby.

"What's the matter, Jackie?" Michael asked

He passed Jackie's test, which was why he has been by her side since they

saw each other in New York City. He stopped his cheating ways and

although she still found it difficult to believe, he didn't even know that she

posed for Playboy! She also has not proved their love with one another yet

and although he tried to get her in bed numerous times, he still respected

her wishes that she wasn't ready yet. You never do forget your first love and

this was the Michael that she wished she grew up with. He really was

different. They both were.

"I need a drink if I'm going to have to spend time with Eric's wife."

"You mentioned not liking her. What's wrong with her?"

He couldn't wait to see Forman again, sit back with some cold ones, and

remember the "good old days".

"Paige is a pain in the ass. And I'm being kind. She wants me out of Eric's

and my godson's life and she almost succeeded. I almost got a stomach

ulcer because of her! And I have to be happy that she's pregnant! Give me a

break! I pity the baby having to have her for a mother! I can't do this."

He didn't want to get involved in any feud between Jackie and Paige.

"Of course you can. I'll be right by your side."

She smiled. "Thanks, Michael."

Maybe tonight she'd let him go all the way.

Jackie sat on the sofa and Paige sat on the chair more uncomfortable with

each other than being in the dentist's chair as Eric and Michael were this

happy ball of energy between them.

"Did I thank you for the chocolates?" Paige asked

"Yes, you did."

She didn't even have her godson here for comfort. But she was happy to

hear that he was at Mindy's house and not having to be here for this fun

filled evening. Lucky kid.

"You look the same, man!" Michael said to Eric

"You look younger."

He wondered if Michael Kelso had gone under the plastic surgeon's knife?

It couldn't have been all of Jackie's beauty creams and potions.

"You're both handsome." Paige and Jackie both said to their respective men

at the same time.

"Would you like a refill on your wine, Jackie?"

"Yes."

And Paige knew exactly what that snarky mouth comment meant.

Jacen was nervous with Mindy's parents coming in and out of the kitchen.

He felt that he couldn't be himself.

"This is good." Mindy said as she ate a piece of the Beef Wellington

"Paige helped me with it since I never made it before. Are your parents done

coming and out of the kitchen for things that they allegedly forgot to

put on the table?"

Mindy tried to smile, "I think so. You two did a fantastic job. This is all

delicious."

"Thanks."

"Your mood has definitely been better."

"I'm sorry that I didn't want to talk about things, Mindy. You might as well

know that my parents are pregnant."

She dropped her fork on her plate. The loud clang of the silver hitting the

china was enough to make her mother to ask from the dining room if

"everything was all right?"

"I'm okay, mom. Holy shit, Jacen." She whispered

"I was in a shock over it, but I'm okay now. It might be good to have a

sibling."

"There had to be more than that. You weren't yourself."

"Paige and I had a talk yesterday—well after I ran off."

"About what?"

"She wants to be my mother, but I'm not ready for that. She realizes that

now."

"I think Paige is nice. Remember when we----"

"No, Mindy. Please. I never want to think about that for as long as I live. I'll

get us some more soda's out of the fridge."

He added to change the subject. He did think Paige was a wonderful,

caring person, but he already had one parent. He didn't need another.

It was bound to happen that Eric and Michael went off after to dinner in the

living room to watch TV, drink beer, and talk about their salad days.

Jackie didn't know why she offered to help Paige clean up. But as long as

they took care of the dishes in silence she was fine. They both were.

If it weren't for the reminiscing between Eric and Michael it would have

been a very quiet dinner conversation.

"You can join the guys in the living room. I can finish this." Paige calmly

said as she dried the glasses.

And even though Jackie didn't want to be in the same space as Paige, she

didn't like her telling her where to go.

"No. I'm fine."

"Okay," Paige really wanted to strangle her, "Then you can check the dryer

to see if the tablecloth is done."

Jackie really wanted to strangle her but remembered that she'd be with

Michael later so she did her best to grin and bear Eric's soulmate.

Jacen's favorite part of the evening just happened to be the most confusing

of all when Mindy's mother had to go downstairs to their finished basement

slash laundry room to take care of an important stain on her very expensive

blouse. Her father was in the garage getting the van to take Jacen home.

He was happily shocked when Mindy backed him against the wall on the

back porch to kiss him in the frantic can't get enough way she did after the

wedding.

"W—what's that for?"

"I think you're adorable in your blue stripe shirt, Jacen."

The flag was raised, but then again holding hands would have been enough

to make that happen.

"T-thanks. I thought you wanted us to backtrack and take things slow?"

"I do. That was just a little kiss."

"That was a little kiss?"

She knew her father would be in the garage forever as he was probably

giving the van a quick polish before coming back into view.

"Like this?"

She did it again, putting her fingers through his hair and massaging him

making invisible tiny circles on the small of his back with her petite hands.

He almost lost track of time and place when he was about to unbutton her

delicate white blouse with the appliqué of white tulips on the pocket right on

their back porch. She gently pushed him off her when she heard her

father start the van.

"My father's coming."

"So am—nevermind."

"I'll bring the dishes back to your house tomorrow."

"O-okay."

He almost wanted to risk her father taking out his collectible WWI rifle and

shooting him his happy place for the opportunity to kiss her passionately

right then and there.

"Bye."

He extended her hand so she would shake it.

"This is new."

He put her hand up to his lips and kissed it.

"That was quite enjoyable, m'lady. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Thank you for the dinner, Jacen."

"You're welcome. Thank you for that kiss."

He whispered as he caught the watchful eyes of her father in the waiting van.

She was worth it. She was worth everything to him.

Jackie just wanted to leave. She couldn't keep up this charade of being nice

to Paige any longer. But Michael and Eric were too busy remembering their

adventurous youth to notice the time. She kept her head on Michael's

shoulder rarely speaking except to correct them when they got the dates

wrong and Paige sat with Eric, holding his hand and even breathing in an

annoying to Jackie fashion. If it made her bad to silently berate a pregnant

woman, than fuck it, she was bad. Jacen who had the devil-may-care

glimmer in his eyes was scared out of his walking in the clouds stance when

he saw everyone in the living room.

"Hi. Everyone."

Jackie got up. "Hello, Jacen. I didn't think I was going to see you." She gave

him a hug; he was wearing his father's cologne. "Meet my

friend Michael Kelso."

"Hi," Jacen shook his hand, "You are the doofus that hung out with my

Dad."

And he could've added broke Jackie's heart, but it wasn't his place and he

was too embarrassed to be in a roomful of adults when all he wanted to do

was fuck Mindy into oblivion. He needed to go in his room and play a game

of assault on a friendly weapon.

Eric looked in his son's eyes and knew.

"Jacen, I'd like to speak to you outside."

"You mean in the kitchen?"

"No, outside," he grabbed the camera that was on the coffee table, "If you'll

excuse us."

"Eric—" Paige started to say

"It's okay," he whispered in her ear, "Watch from the kitchen window. I'll

be back guys." Eric put the camera in his pocket.

"Dad, I can't possibly be in any trouble."

"No, Jacen, sit on my car. Relax."

"Well, I was going to talk to you when I got home but I forgot that you had

company over."

"You can talk to me now."

"Mindy kind of confused me."

"You got a mixed message son?"

"No. More like a surprise out of the blue! She kissed me! She called it a

"little kiss"," He did the quoting gestures because he was so nervous, "But

it wasn't. It was the kind of passionate kiss like before we did it."

"Oh I see. I had a feeling it was something like that. You know I feel you are

too young for a sexual relationship."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Dad, can I go now?"

"One second, Jacen. You know I try very hard not to be like how my Dad

was to me. You were never spanked and I never called you any verbally

abusive names, but there was one thing Red Forman did with me, that at the

time, I wasn't lovin' it, but now I realize what a genius thing it was. Close

your eyes my son. I have a present for you."

"Okay."

"No peeking." Eric quietly uncoiled the tubing that was on the ground and

turned the spigot, "You'll thank me later, Jacen."

He put the hose on and soaked his son with all of that wonderful full blast

power that knocked him off the car like Red did to him many years ago.

He threw the hose down on the ground and snapped the picture of his

completely soaked and horny fifteen year old son who was a wet lump in

the driveway.

"Dad! What. The. Hell.?!"

Eric laughed, "I'm sorry, Jacen, but it needed to be done."

Paige opened the door, "I know I am probably missing something here.

Jacen get out of the those wet clothes before you catch a cold."

Jackie tried to hold back the laughter. "Oh, Jacen…"

"BURN!" Michael exclaimed

Jacen looked at him like he was still a doofus.

"Eric, I'm sure there is a valid reason why you put the hose on your very

own son?" Paige asked

"There is darling. Let's put the coffee on and I'll tell you all about when Red

put the hose on me."

"I remember." Jackie replied wryly.

God, wouldn't this evening ever end? Now she had to sit around the table

and have coffee, cake, and memories of even more days gone by in Point

Place, Wisconsin with the woman she hated even more than Donna

Pinciotti-Hyde.

"We'll have to have a rain check, buddy." Michael said, "Plan your next

vacation in Denver and you can see my sports bar."

Jackie's face showed a visible sign of relief. It was like giving a parched

person a glass of water after they walked in the desert for an hour without a

thirst quenching drop.

There were the goodbye hugs including Jackie and Paige's quick almost

Hollywood-esque non-touching kiss-kiss/hug-hug and promises to see

each other again soon.

"That was something. I can't believe Jackie is dating Kelso again. He seems

so mature now. I thought I was the mature one?"

"You put the hose on Jacen. He's quite angry at you." Paige melted into his arms as

they made their way to the sofa.

"He'll be fine. As I said before Red did the same thing to me. It is supposed

to curb those horny thoughts. It doesn't curb anything, but it's a nice

little reminder. Of course, I was a virgin at the time and Jacen—oh I don't

want to think about it. Paige, we gotta keep this one," He put his hand on

her stomach, "As little as possible. For as long as possible."

"Do you want a cup of coffee, Eric?" she asked him

"Nope. I want to go to bed and have a cup of Paige."

She laughed. He could always make her laugh.

"Maybe I should put the hose on you?"

"That'd be super hot."

She threw a pillow at him. "To the bedroom while I am still in the early

stages and don't look like a whale."

"You my dear will always be pretty." He kissed her on the lips as they both

got off the couch.

"You just might a get a bj for that one."

He picked her up. "And you just might be going to church…."

"We're all out of fruit."

"Then I shall improvise, m'lady."

And with those words from her husband the miserable night spent with

Jackie and her man-pretty boyfriend was completely forgotten.

Jacen put his Walkman on full blast as he sat in his bedroom dressed in only

his bathrobe, when he heard the noises coming from Eric and

Paige's bedroom.

Ewww! Maybe, I should put the hose on you!



He walked over to his desk and looked at the picture of him and Mindy that

his father let the wedding photographer use the last bit of film to

take a picture of them. Jacen loved Mindy with all of his heart and he

couldn't wait to put his hose in her again and this time she wouldn't want to

backtrack to the virginal state either.

Like horny but loving father, like horny but loving son.